Hakim elected Kolkata Mayor, pledges to make city pollution-free

The post of the mayor had fallen vacant after Sovan Chatterjee resigned following instructions from Mamata Banerjee.

Kolkata: West Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim was on Monday elected Mayor of Kolkata.

In a straight contest for the top post in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Hakim defeated Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Meena Devi Purohit by securing 121 votes in the 144-member Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) election.

Purohit got five votes.

Twelve Left Front and two Congress councillors boycotted the election.

The post of the mayor had fallen vacant after Sovan Chatterjee resigned following instructions from Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Countering BJP`s criticism that he has been given the post as part of Banerjee`s minority appeasement politics, Hakim said people should judge him by his work, and not his religion.

"I`ll work for the development and beautification of the metropolis. I will work towards making the city pollution-free," he said.

Hakim promised tax rebates for the citizens if they planted trees in their houses. The new mayor also underscored the need for waste management and recycling.